Chapter 52 7:44

For the next couple hours, I sat in a chair and watched the rain coming down outside, thinking about all of the time I had spent with Ethan.

With every flash of lightning in the distance, memories of him flashed before my eyes. I thought of the gentleness he’d shown me when we made love.

My hand automatically went to my abdomen where the child was growing.

I couldn’t believe that someone would show me tenderness, make a baby with me, watch me give birth to their child… and then kill me.

But that was Ethan’s plan, and that meant I had to go.

Even if that meant I needed to trust the likes of Madalynn, who had told me herself she didn’t want her child to be second in line to the throne. My baby’s life was hanging in the balance. But I had to take the gamble and try.

A knock on the door pulled me away from the window. Tonight hadn’t been quiet for me at all.

Vicky entered, walked toward me, and wrapped her arms around my neck.

“I wish tonight wasn’t happening,” she said, staring at me with tears in her eyes.

My heart dropped. How did she know?!

“Vicky…” I tried my best to smile. “To…tonight?”

As she pulled back from me, she gave me her own confused look.

The engagement party.”

1 silently let out the breath I was holding and nodded my head.

“Well,” I said, “nothing can be done. Ethan has made his mind up on what he wants. It was for the alliance. He didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I know he cares about you.”

“It doesn’t matter if he does or not. I will never be enough for him, Vicky. I’m just a breeder.”

Vicky shook her head in disagreement, but she couldn’t find the words to comfort me.

“Thank you for everything you have done for me. I’ll never forget it, Vicky.”

“Hey-” She gave a small sob as she pulled back. “You’re acting like this is goodbye. We’ll get through this, Rosalie. We still have time. We have a few months to change his mind. We’re getting there.”

I looked her in the eye. “Maybe you’re right.”

Vicky turned and fixed herself in a nearby mirror. “Now I have to go down to this stupid dinner with Georgia. Someone has to keep her in line, after all.” She chuckled.

“Yeah, don’t allow her to make a mess of things,” I replied softly as I watched her leave my room.

***

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